Erick L. Buchanon, of no known address, faces charges of murder and two counts of armed assault and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He is slated to be arraigned Thursday in District Court.

The Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and the Springfield Police warrant and K-9 units were conducting surveillance Wednesday when they spotted Buchanon walking on Northampton Street.

Buchanon fled, running through several backyards and jumping fences in an attempt to evade capture.

Police set up a perimeter and a Springfield Police K-9 unit was deployed; police located Buchanon hiding on a front porch.

The suspect resisted arrest, according to authorities, but was taken into custody by Springfield police. Buchanon is accused of stabbing Merritt and two other people, an unnamed man and woman, during a disturbance at 356 Belmont Ave. just before 1 a.m. on March 11.

Police were called to the area by separate 911 calls moments apart. The first involved a 27-year-old woman with serious stab wounds on Fairfield Street, and the second involved a 29-year-old man with stab wounds on lower Belmont Avenue.

The two people each told police they had just been stabbed at 356 Belmont Ave., and when police went there to investigate, they found Merritt's body.

State police had recently added Buchanon to the department's most wanted fugitives list.

This is a developing story. The Republican has a reporter in court and will update with information from his arraignment..